European stakeholders discussed generational renewal at a VistaMilk Policy Workshop in Brussels to contribute to recommendations for the next Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).

VistaMilk Research Ireland Centre for Science and Digital Innovation in Pasture-based Dairy hosted the workshop to focus on ensuring a new generation of farmers can successfully enter and thrive within the sector.

The workshop, ‘Shaping the Future of Generational Renewal in the CAP’, brought together policymakers, researchers, agricultural organisations and stakeholders from across Europe to explore how future agricultural policy can better support generational renewal.

A key outcome of the workshop will be the development of a report containing recommendations for policymakers at the European Commission.

The event was also attended by MEP Maria Walsh, the European Parliament's lead negotiator on the report on Generational Renewal in Agriculture.

Generational renewal

The workshop featured contributions from leading experts working across policy, research and farmer representation.

The speakers included: MEP Maria Walsh; Marion Picot, European Council of Young Farmers (CEJA); Dr. Conor Hogan, Teagasc and VistaMilk; Dr. Tomás Russell, VistaMilk and University College Dublin (UCD); Dr. Brian Leonard, UCD, and Dr. Federica Consentino, University of Catania.

Participants explored key issues influencing generational renewal across Europe.

The topics for discussion included the attractiveness of agriculture as a career, barriers to entry for young farmers and the role of collaborative farming models in supporting farm succession and business development.

The event also showcased research being conducted through VistaMilk, with interactive workshops facilitated by PhD researchers working in the area.

Pádraig Lacey, a VistaMilk PhD student, facilitated one of the stakeholder workshops focused on identifying practical solutions to support generational renewal across European agriculture.

These sessions provided stakeholders with an opportunity to share experiences and perspectives that will directly inform the recommendations presented in the final report.

Dr. Tomás Russell, assistant professor at UCD, who is one of the organisers of the event, said: "Generational renewal is about more than farm succession. It is about ensuring agriculture remains an attractive, viable and rewarding career choice for future generations.

"Through research and engagement activities, we are working to generate the evidence needed to support effective policy and practical solutions that will help secure the long-term future of the sector."